U.S. patent application number 17/372552 was filed with the patent office on 2022-01-20 for management system, management method, and dummy container.
The applicant listed for this patent is FUJIFILM CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Haruyasu NAKATSUGAWA, Yoshihiro SETO.
Application Number | 20220018865 17/372552 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005764072 |
Filed Date | 2022-01-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220018865 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SETO; Yoshihiro ; et
al. |
January 20, 2022 |
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, MANAGEMENT METHOD, AND DUMMY CONTAINER
Abstract
A management system including a processor, the processor is
configured to acquire an image obtained by imaging an outer surface
of each of plural sample containers and a boundary container, the
sample container containing a sample and in which subject
information of a subject from whom the sample is collected is given
to the outer surface, the boundary container in which group
boundary information indicating a boundary between plural groups of
subjects is given to the outer surface, recognize the subject
information and the group boundary information based on the image,
and associate a test result related to the sample contained in each
of the sample containers with a test order which includes the
subject information and in which the group is divided corresponding
to the group boundary information, based on a result of the
recognition and the test order.
Inventors: |
SETO; Yoshihiro; (Kanagawa,
JP) ; NAKATSUGAWA; Haruyasu; (Kanagawa, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
FUJIFILM CORPORATION |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005764072 |
Appl. No.: |
17/372552 |
Filed: |
July 12, 2021 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01N 35/00732 20130101;
G06V 20/00 20220101; G01N 2035/00831 20130101; G01N 35/0092
20130101 |
International
Class: |
G01N 35/00 20060101
G01N035/00; G06K 9/00 20060101 G06K009/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 15, 2020 |
JP |
2020-121722 |
Claims
1. A management system comprising at least one processor, wherein
the processor is configured to acquire an image obtained by imaging
an outer surface of each of a plurality of sample containers and a
boundary container, the sample container containing a sample and in
which subject information of a subject from whom the sample is
collected is given to the outer surface, the boundary container in
which group boundary information indicating a boundary between a
plurality of groups of subjects is given to the outer surface in a
case where there are the plurality of groups and the samples are
continuously tested for the plurality of groups, recognize the
subject information given to each of the sample containers and the
group boundary information given to the boundary container based on
the image, and associate a test result related to the sample
contained in each of the sample containers with a test order which
includes the subject information and in which the group is divided
corresponding to the group boundary information, based on a result
of the recognition and the test order.
2. The management system according to claim 1, wherein the boundary
container is a sample container containing a sample to be tested at
at least one of first or last in the group.
3. The management system according to claim 1, wherein the boundary
container is a dummy container which does not contain a sample.
4. The management system according to claim 1, wherein the group
boundary information includes group discrimination information for
discriminating a group to which the subject belongs, and the
processor is configured to further recognize the group
discrimination information based on the image, and associate the
test result related to the sample contained in each of the sample
containers with the test order further including the group
discrimination information, based on a result of the recognition
and the test order.
5. The management system according to claim 1, wherein the group
boundary information is represented by at least one of a character
or a symbol.
6. The management system according to claim 3, wherein a fact that
subject information is not entered on an outer surface of the dummy
container is used as the group boundary information.
7. The management system according to claim 1, wherein the
processor is configured to perform control such that the test
result and the test order are displayed on a display in association
with each other.
8. The management system according to claim 1, wherein the
processor is configured to generate a label image for each of a
plurality of the subjects by extracting an area including the
subject information from the image, and perform control such that
the label image, the test result, and the test order are displayed
on a display in association with each other based on the subject
information included in the label image.
9. A management method comprising: acquiring an image obtained by
imaging an outer surface of each of a plurality of sample
containers and a boundary container, the sample container
containing a sample and in which subject information of a subject
from whom the sample is collected is given to the outer surface,
the boundary container in which group boundary information
indicating a boundary between a plurality of groups of subjects is
given to the outer surface in a case where there are the plurality
of groups and the samples are continuously tested for the plurality
of groups; recognizing the subject information given to each of the
sample containers and the group boundary information given to the
boundary container based on the image; and associating a test
result related to the sample contained in each of the sample
containers with a test order which includes the subject information
and in which the group is divided corresponding to the group
boundary information, based on a result of the recognition and the
test order.
10. A dummy container in which group boundary information
indicating a boundary between a plurality of groups is given to an
outer surface in a case where a plurality of sample containers each
containing a sample and in which subject information of a subject
from whom the sample is collected is given to an outer surface are
divided into the plurality of groups to which the subject belongs
and the samples are continuously tested for the plurality of
groups.
11. The dummy container according to claim 10, wherein the group
boundary information includes group discrimination information for
discriminating a group to which the subject belongs.
12. The dummy container according to claim 10, wherein the group
boundary information is represented by at least one of a character
or a symbol.
13. The dummy container according to claim 10, wherein a fact that
subject information is not entered on the outer surface of the
dummy container is used as the group boundary information.
14. The dummy container according to claim 10, wherein the dummy
container has a shape that is stored in a test device for testing
the sample contained in the sample container.
15. The dummy container according to claim 14, wherein the dummy
container has a shape similar to a shape of the sample container.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn. 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-121722, filed on
Jul. 15, 2020. The above application is hereby expressly
incorporated by reference, in its entirety, into the present
application.
BACKGROUND
Technical Field
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a management system, a
management method, and a dummy container.
Related Art
[0003] In the related art, various tests such as a fecal occult
blood test and a blood test have been performed. In some of these
tests, for example, an institution that performs a test such as a
testing institution and an institution that uses the test results
such as a hospital may be different.
[0004] For example, in the case of a fecal occult blood test, a
subject collects a sample such as feces and submits it to the
hospital. The hospital provides the testing institution with a test
order including information such as name, gender, and age to
specify each subject, as well as samples submitted by plural
subjects. The testing institution performs tests on each of plural
samples provided by the hospital, and notifies the hospital and/or
the subject by associating the subject with the test result, based
on the test order received from the hospital.
[0005] That is, the testing institution is performing the work of
associating the test result related to the sample in a sample
container containing the sample with the test order. In the related
art, this work has been performed by a method such as manually
attaching a barcode or the like issued based on a test order to a
corresponding sample container of a subject and reading the barcode
at the time of testing the sample.
[0006] In addition, for example, as a technique for sorting samples
according to the group to which the subject belongs, there is
disclosed a technique in which a sorter information displayed by a
barcode or the like is attached to a container to be contained, and
the samples are sorted and transported based on the sorter
information (see JP2001-108690A).
[0007] Further, there is disclosed a technique for checking a
possibility that a sample is misplaced so that the sample is not
misplaced due to the same surname and the same name (see
JP2010-216868A).
SUMMARY
[0008] In recent years, in order to improve the efficiency of the
above-mentioned test work, there is a demand for a technique
capable of appropriately associating a test result related to a
sample contained in a sample container with a test order without
giving an identification unit such as a barcode to the sample
container. Further, in such a case, there is a demand for a
technique capable of appropriately associating a test result with a
test order even though plural sample containers included in each of
plural different test orders are collectively set in a test
device.
[0009] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above
circumstances, and an object of the present disclosure is to
provide a management system, a management method, and a dummy
container capable of efficiently and appropriately associating a
test result with a test order.
[0010] A management system according to an aspect of the present
disclosure comprises at least one processor. The processor is
configured to acquire an image obtained by imaging an outer surface
of each of plural sample containers and a boundary container, the
sample container containing a sample and in which subject
information of a subject from whom the sample is collected is given
to the outer surface, the boundary container in which group
boundary information indicating a boundary between plural groups of
subjects is given to the outer surface in a case where there are
the plurality of groups and the samples are continuously tested for
the plurality of groups, recognize the subject information given to
each of the sample containers and the group boundary information
given to the boundary container based on the image, and associate a
test result related to the sample contained in each of the sample
containers with a test order which includes the subject information
and in which the group is divided corresponding to the group
boundary information, based on a result of the recognition and the
test order.
[0011] In the management system according to the aspect of the
present disclosure, the boundary container may be a sample
container containing a sample to be tested at at least one of first
or last in the group.
[0012] In the management system according to the aspect of the
present disclosure, the boundary container may be a dummy container
which does not contain a sample.
[0013] In the management system according to the aspect of the
present disclosure, the group boundary information may include
group discrimination information for discriminating a group to
which the subject belongs, and the processor may be configured to
further recognize the group discrimination information based on the
image, and associate the test result related to the sample
contained in each of the sample containers with the test order
further including the group discrimination information, based on a
result of the recognition and the test order.
[0014] In the management system according to the aspect of the
present disclosure, the group boundary information may be
represented by at least one of a character or a symbol.
[0015] In the management system according to the aspect of the
present disclosure, a fact that subject information is not entered
on an outer surface of the dummy container may be used as the group
boundary information.
[0016] In the management system according to the aspect of the
present disclosure, the processor may be configured to perform
control such that the test result and the test order are displayed
on a display in association with each other.
[0017] In the management system according to the aspect of the
present disclosure, the processor may be configured to generate a
label image for each of plural the subjects by extracting an area
including the subject information from the image, and perform
control such that the label image, the test result, and the test
order are displayed on a display in association with each other
based on the subject information included in the label image.
[0018] A management method according to another aspect of the
present disclosure comprises acquiring an image obtained by imaging
an outer surface of each of plural sample containers and a boundary
container, the sample container containing a sample and in which
subject information of a subject from whom the sample is collected
is given to the outer surface, the boundary container in which
group boundary information indicating a boundary between plural
groups of subjects is given to the outer surface in a case where
there are the plurality of groups and the samples are continuously
tested for the plurality of groups, recognizing the subject
information given to each of the sample containers and the group
boundary information given to the boundary container based on the
image, and associating a test result related to the sample
contained in each of the sample containers with a test order which
includes the subject information and in which the group is divided
corresponding to the group boundary information, based on a result
of the recognition and the test order.
[0019] A dummy container according to another aspect of the present
disclosure in which group boundary information indicating a
boundary between plural groups is given to an outer surface in a
case where plural sample containers each containing a sample and in
which subject information of a subject from whom the sample is
collected is given to an outer surface are divided into the
plurality of groups to which the subject belongs and the samples
are continuously tested for the plurality of groups.
[0020] In the dummy container according to the aspect of the
present disclosure, the group boundary information may include
group discrimination information for discriminating a group to
which the subject belongs.
[0021] In the dummy container according to the aspect of the
present disclosure, the group boundary information may be
represented by at least one of a character or a symbol.
[0022] In the dummy container according to the aspect of the
present disclosure, a fact that subject information is not entered
on the outer surface of the dummy container may be used as the
group boundary information.
[0023] In the dummy container according to the aspect of the
present disclosure, the dummy container preferably has a shape that
is stored in a test device for testing the sample contained in the
sample container.
[0024] In the dummy container according to the aspect of the
present disclosure, the dummy container preferably has a shape
similar to a shape of the sample container.
[0025] According to the aspects of the present disclosure, it is
possible to provide a management system, a management method, and a
dummy container capable of efficiently and appropriately
associating a test result with a test order.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of
a management system according to each embodiment.
[0027] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a sample container
for a fecal occult blood test.
[0028] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of a fecal
occult blood test device (test device).
[0029] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware
configuration of a management device according to each
embodiment.
[0030] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional
configuration of the management device according to each
embodiment.
[0031] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a test order
according to a first embodiment.
[0032] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a screen in which
subjects having the same surname and the same name are highlighted
and displayed.
[0033] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a sample container
to which subject discrimination information is given.
[0034] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a test order
including subject discrimination information.
[0035] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which
a sample container is housed in a rack.
[0036] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a test result and
an image obtained by imaging a sample container.
[0037] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a recognition
result of an image obtained by imaging a sample container.
[0038] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a process of associating a
test result with a test order.
[0039] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a screen in which
a test result and a test order are displayed in association with
each other.
[0040] FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of a process in
the management device.
[0041] FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of a process in
the test device.
[0042] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a test order
according to a second embodiment.
[0043] FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a sample
container to which group boundary information is given.
[0044] FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a process of associating a
test result with a test order.
[0045] FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a dummy container
to which group boundary information is given.
[0046] FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a process of associating a
test result with a test order.
[0047] FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of a dummy container
to which group boundary information is given.
[0048] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a dummy container
to which group boundary information is given.
[0049] FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an example of a dummy container
to which group boundary information is given.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0050] Hereinafter, each embodiment of the present disclosure will
be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
First Embodiment
[0051] First, the configuration of a management system 20 of the
present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 1. As
shown in FIG. 1, in various medical-related tests such as a fecal
occult blood test or a blood test (hereinafter, simply referred to
as a "test"), a hospital 11 visited by a subject 10 for a health
diagnosis, other tests, or diagnosis, and a testing institution 12
which is a separate organization from the hospital 11 are
involved.
[0052] The subject 10 collects a sample to be used for the test,
contains the collected sample in a dedicated container
(hereinafter, referred to as a "sample container") 13, and submits
it to the hospital 11. The sample is the body tissue or secretions
of the subject 10. For example, in the fecal occult blood test, the
sample is the feces of the subject 10. In the blood test, the
sample is the blood of the subject 10. Hereinafter, for the sake of
description, it is assumed that the test to be performed is
specifically a fecal occult blood test.
[0053] On the other hand, the hospital 11 usually requests a test
to the testing institution 12, which is a specialized institution
for a test. For example, the hospital 11 issues a test request
(hereinafter, referred to as a "test order"; details will be
described later) to the testing institution 12 by using a hospital
information system (HIS) 16 or the like. Further, the hospital 11
sends the sample container 13 containing the sample to the testing
institution 12.
[0054] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a stool collection container as
an example of the sample container 13. The sample container 13 is a
container made into a kit so that the subject 10 can collect stool
by himself/herself and store it stably for a certain period of
time. As shown in FIG. 2, the sample container 13 comprises a
container body 31 for containing feces as a sample, and a cap 32
attachably and detachably provided on the container body 31. The
container body 31 is, for example, transparent or translucent, and
contains a diluent and/or a storage solution of feces as a sample
therein. An insertion part (not shown) to be inserted into the
container body 31 is attached to the cap 32. Therefore, the subject
10 removes the cap 32 from the container body 31, collects feces by
tracing the surface of the feces as a sample with the distal end of
the insertion part, inserts the insertion part into the container
body 31, and closes the cap 32 to thereby collect the feces as a
sample.
[0055] In the sample container 13, a label 35 is attached to the
outer surface of the container body 31, and the subject 10 can
enter various information including his/her own name information
thereon. That is, at least the name information of the subject from
whom the sample contained in the sample container 13 is collected
is given to the outer surface of the sample container 13. In the
example of FIG. 2, the label 35 is provided with a name entry field
("Ichiro Fuji" in FIG. 2), a gender selection field ("male" in FIG.
2), an age entry field ("37 years old" in FIG. 2), and a stool
collection date and time entry field ("month: 4 day: 25 year: 2019
hour: 18" in FIG. 2).
[0056] Since the fecal occult blood test is usually performed using
feces for two days, two types of labels 35 in different colors may
be used to distinguish the sample containers 13 for two days
related to the same person. For example, the characters indicating
the name entry field ("name"), the characters indicating the gender
selection field ("male" and "female"), the characters indicating
the age entry field ("years old"), the characters indicating the
stool collection date and time entry field ("month", "day", "year",
and "hour"), and/or other ruled lines may be different in color.
Hereinafter, for the sake of simplification of the description,
only one sample container 13 related to the same subject 10 will be
described.
[0057] The testing institution 12 comprises at least one test
device 21, and a management device 22. The management system 20
according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes the
management device 22 and some or all of the test devices 21. The
testing institution 12 may comprise plural types of test devices 21
depending on the type of test to be performed. For example, in a
case where the testing institution 12 supports a fecal occult blood
test and a blood test, it may comprise two types of test devices
21, a fecal occult blood test device and a blood test device.
[0058] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a fecal occult blood
test device as an example of the test device 21. The test device 21
comprises a sample container placing portion 41, a test unit 42
which is a substantive mechanism for performing a test, and a touch
panel 43 which functions as an operation unit and a display unit of
the test device 21. The test device 21 includes, for example, a
central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), a random
access memory (RAM), and the like.
[0059] The sample container placing portion 41 is a portion on
which one or plural sample containers 13 are placed in a case of
performing a test. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10,
plural sample containers 13 are set in a rack 46 that holds a
portion related to subject information in a state of not being
hidden in the rack 46, and the plurality of sample containers 13
are placed on the sample container placing portion 41 together with
the rack 46. The plurality of sample containers 13 related to the
same subject 10 may be set in one rack 46, but in the following
description, it is assumed that the sample containers 13 set in the
rack 46 are submitted by different subjects 10.
[0060] As shown in FIG. 5, the test unit 42 comprises an imaging
unit 52 and a test mechanism 53. The test mechanism 53 is a
mechanism for sequentially performing a fecal occult blood test on
the samples contained in the plurality of sample containers 13 set
in the rack 46, and includes a stock of reagents used for the fecal
occult blood test. In a case where the test is completed, the test
mechanism 53 may control the touch panel 43 to sequentially display
the test result, the progress of the test, and the like.
[0061] The imaging unit 52 includes an imaging device such as a
camera. The imaging unit 52 images an area including name
information and subject discrimination information 100 (details
will be described later) given to the outer surface of the sample
container 13 to obtain an image at the timing of providing the
sample contained in each sample container 13 to the test mechanism
53. The imaging unit 52 may image the plurality of sample
containers 13 set in the rack 46 individually, or image some or all
of the plurality of sample containers 13 set in the rack 46
together. In addition, the imaging unit 52 generates a label image
55 for each of the plurality of subjects 10 by extracting an area
including the name information from the image obtained by imaging
the subjects.
[0062] The test device 21 outputs a test result obtained by the
test mechanism 53 and the label image 55 of the sample container 13
in which the sample for which the test result is obtained is
contained to the management device 22 in association with each
other (see FIG. 11).
[0063] An ID (IDentifier) may be given to the rack 46 by using a
barcode, an IC chip, or the like (not shown) so that the test
device 21 can individually recognize the rack 46. According to such
a form, the sample container 13 and the test result can be managed
for each rack 46, so that confusion can be suppressed.
[0064] Next, a hardware configuration of the management device 22
according to the present embodiment will be described with
reference to FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 4, the management device 22
includes a CPU 81, a non-volatile storage unit 82, and a memory 83
as a temporary storage area. Further, the management device 22
includes a display 84 such as a liquid crystal display and an
organic electro luminescence (EL) display, an input unit 85 such as
a keyboard and a mouse, and a network interface (I/F) 86 connected
to a network. The CPU 81, the storage unit 82, the memory 83, the
display 84, the input unit 85, and the network I/F 86 are connected
to a bus 88. The CPU 81 is an example of the processor in the
present disclosure.
[0065] The storage unit 82 is realized by a storage device such as
a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), and a flash
memory. An information processing program 87 is stored in the
storage unit 82 as the storage medium. The CPU 81 reads out the
information processing program 87 from the storage unit 82, loads
the read-out program into the memory 83, and executes the loaded
information processing program 87.
[0066] Next, a functional configuration of the management device 22
according to the present embodiment will be described with
reference to FIGS. 5 to 14. As shown in FIG. 5, the management
device 22 includes an acquisition unit 60, a recognition unit 62,
an association unit 64, and a display control unit 66. The CPU 81
executes the information processing program 87, and thus, the
management device 22 functions as the acquisition unit 60, the
recognition unit 62, the association unit 64, and the display
control unit 66.
[0067] As shown in FIG. 5, the acquisition unit 60 acquires a test
order from the hospital information system 16. FIG. 6 shows an
example of a test order. As shown in FIG. 6, the test order
includes information of a subject 10 who performs a test, that is,
a subject 10 who collects a sample (hereinafter, referred to as
"subject information"). The subject information may include at
least name information of the subject 10, information such as the
gender and age of the subject 10, a subject ID assigned to each
subject 10, and the like. In addition, the test order may include
information indicating the target and contents of the test to be
performed.
[0068] The test order is created for each group to which the
subject belongs, such as a company and a school. FIG. 6 shows an
example in which test orders are created for each of "Company P"
and "Company Q" as an example of the group. The test order may
include information on the group to which the subject belongs as
the subject information.
[0069] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed
on the display 84 in a case where plural subjects having the same
surname and the same name are included in the test order. The
display control unit 66 determines whether or not the test order
acquired by the acquisition unit 60 includes plural subjects having
the same surname and the same name and performs control such that
the plurality of subjects having the same surname and the same name
are highlighted and displayed on the display 84 in a case where the
test order includes the plurality of subjects having the same
surname and the same name. In the example of FIG. 7, two people
with the same surname and the same name of "Ichiro Fuji" are
highlighted and displayed with a different background color. The
process by the display control unit 66 is performed prior to the
process of imaging the outer surface of the sample container 13 by
the above-mentioned test device 21.
[0070] In a case where the tester checks that the test order
includes plural subjects 10 having the same surname and the same
name based on the screen displayed on the display 84, the tester
gives the subject discrimination information 100 to the outer
surface of the sample container 13 related to the subject 10 having
the same surname and the same name. The subject discrimination
information 100 is information for discriminating the plurality of
subjects 10 having the same surname and the same name, and a
different character string (for example, an identification number
or the like) may be given to each of the plurality of subjects 10
having the same surname and the same name. The tester discriminates
the subject 10 having the same surname and the same name based on
the subject information other than the name information, such as
age information and gender information, for example.
[0071] In the example of FIG. 8, among the sample containers 13 of
"Ichiro Fuji" having the same surname and the same name, "A" is
given to the sample container 13 to which "age: 37" is given as age
information and "B" is given to the sample container 13 to which
"age: 50" is given as age information. That is, the subject
discrimination information 100 is given only to the sample
container 13 of the subject 10 having the same surname and the same
name among the plurality of sample containers 13.
[0072] Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the tester adds the same
subject discrimination information 100 as the subject
discrimination information 100 given to the outer surface of the
sample container 13 related to the subject 10 having the same
surname and the same name to the "remarks" field of the test order.
That is, at this time point, the test order includes at least the
name information and the same subject discrimination information
100 as that given to the outer surface of the sample container
13.
[0073] After that, as shown in FIG. 10, the tester sets the
plurality of sample containers 13 to be tested in the rack 46 and
causes the test device 21 to test the samples with the subject
discrimination information 100 given to the outer surface of the
sample container 13 related to the subject 10 having the same
surname and the same name. The order in which the sample containers
13 are arranged on the rack 46 is random, and may be different from
the order registered in the test order.
[0074] It is preferable that the above process performed on the
subjects 10 having the same surname and the same name is performed
not only on the subjects having the same surname and the same name
but also on plural subjects 10 having similar names such as the
same sound and different characters. For example, this is because,
in a case where each of the plurality of subjects 10 having names
with the same sound and different characters describes their names
on the outer surface of the sample container 13 with a notation
different from the name notation registered in the test order (for
example, hiragana), it is preferable to improve the accuracy of
discrimination by the subject discrimination information 100.
[0075] The acquisition unit 60 acquires the test result and the
label image 55 from the test device 21. As described above, the
label image 55 and the test result are output from the test device
21 in association with each other as shown in FIG. 11. In the
example of FIG. 11, a "measured value" is shown as an example of
the test result. In addition, the example of FIG. 11 also includes
a "test ID" corresponding to the label image 55 and the test
result. The "test ID" represents the order in which the tests were
performed (or the order in which the test results were acquired),
and is attached to, for example, a set of the label image 55 and
the test result in a case where the acquisition unit 60 acquires
the label image 55 and the test result corresponding to each
other.
[0076] Based on the label image 55, the recognition unit 62
recognizes the subject information including at least the name
information and the subject discrimination information 100 given to
each sample container 13. Specifically, the recognition unit 62 has
a character recognition function such as optical character
recognition/reader (OCR). FIG. 12 shows the name information
("name") recognized by the recognition unit 62 based on the label
image 55, the subject information including information regarding
gender and age, and the subject discrimination information 100
("remarks").
[0077] The recognition unit 62 may perform control to issue a
warning in a case where the sample container related to plural
subjects having the same surname and the same name to which the
subject discrimination information 100 is not given is recognized
based on the label image 55. Control to issue a warning includes,
for example, displaying a warning on the display 84 and emitting a
sound in a case where the management device 22 comprises a
speaker.
[0078] The association unit 64 associates the test result related
to the sample contained in each sample container 13 with a test
order to which the subject discrimination information 100 is added
by the tester, based on the recognition result of the recognition
unit 62 (see FIG. 12) and the test order (see FIG. 9). Here, the
"association" between the test result and the test order refers to
specifying the test result related to the sample of the specific
sample container 13 as the test result related to the specific test
order. In other words, the "association" is substantially
synonymous with specifying the specific sample container 13 as the
sample container 13 related to the specific test order, and/or
identifying that the specific subject 10 who provided the sample of
a specific sample container 13 is the subject 10 related to the
specific test order. This is because, in a case where one of these
is associated, the other is automatically determined. Further,
since the sample container 13 has a one-to-one correspondence with
the label image 55, the association between the sample container 13
and the test order can be rephrased as the association between the
label image 55 and the test order.
[0079] The association unit 64 collates a part or all of the
recognition result of the recognition unit 62 with the
corresponding item of the test order. Then, as shown in FIG. 13,
the test order in which contents of the subject information
included in the recognition result and the test order in common
match each other is associated with the label image 55 that has
performed the recognition process and the test result.
[0080] In addition, in a case where there is no test order in which
the contents of the subject information included in the recognition
result and the test order in common match each other, the
association unit 64 may associate a test order having a high match
rate among the partially matching test orders with the set of the
label image 55 that has performed the recognition process and the
test result. That is, the association unit 64 may collate the
recognition result of the label image 55 with the test order, and
presume that the test order having a good match rate (for example,
the highest match rate) of the subject information is the test
order corresponding to the set of the label image 55 that has
performed the recognition process and the test result to perform
association. In this case, even in a case where the label image 55
is poorly recognized, the association that is tentatively
considered to be the most accurate can be performed.
[0081] Further, in a case where the recognition unit 62 recognizes
plural pieces of subject information, the association unit 64 may
set a priority among the pieces of subject information. For
example, in a case where the recognition unit 62 recognizes the
name, gender, and age of the subject 10 from the label image 55,
the association unit 64 may prioritize the name of the subject 10
among these information and associate the name with the test order.
Since the probability that the name of the subject 10 matches the
other subject 10 is lower than the probability that the gender and
age match the other subject 10, by giving priority to the degree of
matching of names, it becomes easy to make an accurate association
even in a case where the subject information does not completely
match.
[0082] As shown in FIG. 14, the display control unit 66 performs
control such that the label image 55, the test result, and the test
order are displayed on the display 84 in association with each
other. The display of the label image 55 may be omitted. Further,
the management device 22 may transmit a test result report as shown
in FIG. 14 to the hospital information system 16 or the like of the
hospital 11.
[0083] Next, an operation of the management device 22 according to
the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 15.
The CPU 81 executes the information processing program 87, and
thus, the process shown in FIG. 15 is executed. The process shown
in FIG. 15 is executed in a case where, for example, an operator
such as a tester inputs an instruction to start a test via the
input unit 85.
[0084] In Step S10 of FIG. 15, the acquisition unit 60 acquires a
test order from the hospital information system 16. In Step S12,
the display control unit 66 performs control such that the
plurality of subjects 10 having the same surname and the same name
are highlighted and displayed on the display 84 in a case where the
test order includes the plurality of subjects 10 having the same
surname and the same name. In Step S14, the display control unit 66
receives the input of the subject discrimination information 100 to
the test order by the operator. In Step S16, the acquisition unit
60 waits until the test result and the image are acquired from the
test device 21.
[0085] Here, the process performed by the test device 21 between
the above-mentioned Steps S14 and S16 will be described with
reference to FIG. 16. The process shown in FIG. 16 is executed in a
case where, for example, an operator such as a tester inputs an
instruction to start a test via the touch panel 43.
[0086] In Step S30 of FIG. 16, the test device 21 determines
whether or not the sample container 13 is set in the sample
container placing portion 41. In a case where the sample container
13 is set in the sample container placing portion 41 (Step S30 is
Y), in Step S32, the imaging unit 52 images an area including name
information and subject discrimination information 100 given to the
outer surface of the sample container 13 to obtain an image. In
Step S34, the test mechanism 53 performs the test of the sample. In
Step S36, the test device 21 outputs the image obtained in Step S32
and the test result obtained in Step S34 in association with each
other to the management device 22. The process of Step S32 and the
process of Step S34 may be performed in parallel or may be
performed in a different order.
[0087] Referring back to FIG. 15, a description will be given. In
Step S18 of FIG. 15, the recognition unit 62 recognizes the name
information and the subject discrimination information 100 given to
each sample container 13 based on the image acquired in Step S16.
In Step S20, the association unit 64 associates the test result
related to the sample contained in each sample container 13 with
the test order in which the subject discrimination information 100
is input in Step S14 based on the recognition result in Step S18
and the test order. In Step S22, the display control unit 66
performs control such that the test result and the test order
associated in Step S20 are displayed on the display 84 in
association with each other.
[0088] As described above, the management system 20 according to
the present embodiment is a management system including at least
one processor, and the processor is configured to acquire an image
obtained by imaging an outer surface of each of the plurality of
sample containers 13 which contain a sample and to which name
information of the subject 10 from whom the sample is collected and
the subject discrimination information 100 for discriminating
plural subjects having the same surname and the same name are given
to the outer surface. In addition, the management system 20
recognizes the name information and the subject discrimination
information 100 given to each of the sample containers 13 based on
the image, and associates a test result related to the sample
contained in each of the sample containers 13 with a test order
including the name information and the subject discrimination
information 100, based on a result of the recognition and the test
order. According to such a form, it is possible to efficiently and
appropriately associate a test result with a test order even in a
case where there are the plurality of subjects 10 having the same
surname and the same name.
[0089] In the above embodiment, the form in which the subject
discrimination information 100 is given to the sample container 13
according to the subject 10 having the same surname and the same
name has been described. However, the present disclosure is not
limited thereto, any form in which the subject 10, the sample
container 13, and the test order can be associated with each other
can be employed. For example, in a case where the sample container
13 related to the subject 10 having the same surname and the same
name is set in the rack 46, a dummy container to which the subject
discrimination information 100 is given may be set in at least one
of the front and rear of the sample container 13 related to the
subject 10 having the same surname and the same name. Even in such
a form, the recognition unit 62 can recognize the subject
discrimination information 100 of the corresponding sample
container 13 from the image obtained by imaging the dummy
container.
Second Embodiment
[0090] In the first embodiment, even in a case where there are
plural subjects 10 having the same surname and the same name in the
same test order, the management system 20 and the management method
capable of efficiently and appropriately associating the test
results with the test orders have been described. That is, as
described above, since the test order is created for each group to
which the subject belongs, the management system 20 that can handle
the case where there are plural subjects 10 having the same surname
and the same name in the same group has been described.
[0091] In the present embodiment, a case where plural subjects 10
having the same surname and the same name do not exist in the same
test order (that is, the same group), and plural subjects 10 having
the same surname and the same name exist in different test orders
(that is, different groups) will be described. FIG. 17 shows an
example in which two "Ichiro Fuji" having the same surname and the
same name exist in different test orders (that is, different
groups) of company P and company Q. Hereinafter, the same
components as those in the first embodiment will be designated by
the same symbols, and the description thereof will be omitted.
[0092] Usually, the test in the test device 21 is performed in the
order of test order by the tester setting the sample container 13
in the rack 46 for each test order (that is, for each group). On
the other hand, in order to improve the efficiency of the test
work, especially in a case where the rack 46 has an empty space, it
is desired that the sample containers 13 included in plural
different groups are set in the same rack 46 and continuously
tested. In such a case, in a case where the boundary between the
groups can be determined, in a case where the plurality of subjects
10 having the same surname and the same name are included in
different groups, the association can be performed without giving
the subject discrimination information 100 described in the first
embodiment.
[0093] Therefore, in the present embodiment, in a case where there
are plural groups of subjects and samples are continuously tested
for the plurality of groups, the boundary between the groups is
determined by using a boundary container in which the group
boundary information 102 indicating the boundary between the
plurality of groups is given on the outer surface. The group
boundary information 102 may include group discrimination
information 104 for discriminating the group to which the subject
10 belongs. The group boundary information 102 and the group
discrimination information 104 are represented by at least one of a
character or a symbol.
[0094] The boundary container is, for example, a sample container
13 containing a sample to be tested at at least one of first or
last in the group. Hereinafter, an example in which the group
boundary information 102 is given to the outer surface of the
sample container 13 containing the sample to be tested first in
each group as an example of the boundary container will be
described.
[0095] FIG. 18 shows an example in which one line as an example of
the group boundary information 102 and the characters "P" and "Q"
are given to the first sample container 13 of each group of company
P and company Q, respectively. Of these, the characters "P" and "Q"
also function as the group discrimination information 104 for
discriminating the groups of company P and company Q,
respectively.
[0096] As shown in FIG. 18, the tester gives the group boundary
information 102 to the first sample container 13 of the group, sets
the information in the rack 46, and executes the test by the test
device 21. The sample container 13 is set in the rack 46 in the
order of test order so that company P comes first and company Q
comes later, for example, as a bundle for each group. That is, the
test is performed for each group in the order of test order. The
order in which the sample containers 13 are arranged in each group
is random, and may be different from the order registered in the
test order.
[0097] The acquisition unit 60 acquires the test result and the
label image 55 from the test device 21. The label image 55 includes
subject information, and group boundary information 102. Further,
the group boundary information 102 may include the group
discrimination information 104.
[0098] The recognition unit 62 recognizes the subject information
given to each sample container 13 and the group boundary
information 102 given to the boundary container based on the label
image 55. Further, in a case where the group boundary information
102 includes the group discrimination information 104, the
recognition unit 62 recognizes the group discrimination information
104.
[0099] The association unit 64 determines that the sample container
13 recognized that the group boundary information 102 is given to
the label image 55 is the first sample container 13 of each group
of company P and company Q. As shown in FIG. 19, the association
unit 64 associates a test result related to the sample contained in
each of the sample containers 13 with the test order in which the
group is divided corresponding to the group boundary information
102, based on the recognition result of the recognition unit 62 and
the test order.
[0100] Here, the "test order in which the group is divided
corresponding to the group boundary information 102" means, for
example, the test order created for each group as described above.
Further, for example, it means a test order in which information on
the group to which the subject 10 belongs is included for each of
the plurality of subjects 10. Further, for example, in a case where
one test order includes plural groups, it means the test order
including the information indicating the boundary of the group
represented by a predetermined character string and blanks at the
boundary between the groups.
[0101] As described above, the test is performed for each group in
order of test order. Therefore, even in a case where the group
boundary information 102 does not include the group discrimination
information 104, the group boundary information 102 shows the
boundary between the groups, so that each of the plurality of
subjects 10 having the same surname and the same name existing in
different groups can be associated with each other.
[0102] Further, in a case where the group boundary information 102
includes the group discrimination information 104, the association
unit 64 associates a test result related to the sample contained in
each of the sample containers 13 with the test order further
including the group discrimination information 104, based on the
recognition result of the recognition unit 62 and the test order.
In this case, by collating the group discrimination information 104
recognized from the label image 55 with the group discrimination
information 104 (for example, "Company P" and "Company Q") included
in the test order, each of the plurality of subjects 10 having the
same surname and the same name existing in different groups can be
associated with each other.
[0103] In the present embodiment, in a case where the display
control unit 66 performs control such that label image 55, the test
result, and the test order are displayed on the display 84 in
association with each other, the display control unit 66 may
perform control such that plural subjects 10 having the same
surname and the same name existing in different groups are
highlighted and displayed. For example, plural subjects 10 having
the same surname and the same name may be highlighted and displayed
with a different background color. In this case, the tester can
confirm the existence of plural subjects 10 having the same surname
and the same name existing in different groups.
[0104] As described above, the management system 20 according to
the present embodiment is a management system including at least
one processor, and the processor is configured to acquire an image
obtained by imaging an outer surface of each of plural sample
containers 13 and a boundary container, the sample container 13
containing a sample and in which subject information of a subject
10 from whom the sample is collected is given to the outer surface,
the boundary container in which group boundary information 102
indicating a boundary between plural groups of subjects 10 is given
to the outer surface in a case where there are the plurality of
groups and the samples are continuously tested for the plurality of
groups. Further, the processor is configured to recognize subject
information given to each of the sample containers 13 and the group
boundary information 102 given to the boundary container based on
the image, and associate a test result related to the sample
contained in each of the sample containers 13 with a test order
which includes the subject information and in which the group is
divided corresponding to the group boundary information 102, based
on a result of the recognition and the test order.
[0105] With the management system 20 according to the present
embodiment, it is possible to determine the boundary between groups
without giving an identification unit such as a barcode to the
sample container 13 as in the related art. Therefore, even though
plural sample containers 13 included in each of plural different
test orders are collectively set in the test device, the test
result and the test order can be appropriately associated with each
other. Further, for example, in a case where there are plural
subjects 10 having the same surname and the same name in different
groups, it is possible to more efficiently and appropriately
associate the test result with the test order.
[0106] In the above embodiment, a case where the name information
is used as information for specifying a subject and the plurality
of subjects 10 having the same surname and the same name exist in
different test orders (that is, different groups) has been
described, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For
any subject information other than name information, the management
system 20 according to the present embodiment can also be applied
to a case where the plurality of subjects 10 having the same
subject information exist in different test orders. That is, in the
present embodiment, the subject information given to the outer
surface of the sample container 13 may not include the name
information.
[0107] For example, as the subject information, a predetermined ID
for each subject is given to the outer surface of the sample
container 13, the recognition unit 62 may recognize the ID, and the
association unit 64 may associate the test result with the test
order based on the ID. In this case, even though the plurality of
subjects 10 having the same ID exist in different test orders (that
is, different groups), the boundary between the groups can be
determined, so that the test result and the test order can be
appropriately associated with each other.
[0108] Further, as the boundary container, for example, a dummy
container 14 that does not contain a sample can be used in addition
to the sample container 13 to which the group boundary information
102 is given as described above. FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an
example in which a dummy container 14 in which no subject
information is entered is used as an example. The dummy container
14 may have a shape that can be stored in the test device 21 for
testing the sample contained in the sample container 13, and
preferably has the same shape as the sample container 13.
[0109] In this case, the fact that the subject information is not
entered on the outer surface of the dummy container 14 may be used
as the group boundary information 102. As shown in FIG. 21, the
association unit 64 determines the boundary of the group by the
label image 55 of the dummy container 14 recognized that the
subject information such as the name information is not given.
[0110] As shown in FIGS. 22 to 24, the group boundary information
102 and the group discrimination information 104 represented by at
least one of a character or a symbol may be given to the outer
surface of the dummy container 14. FIG. 22 shows an example of the
dummy container 14 to which one line is given as an example of the
group boundary information 102. FIG. 23 shows the dummy container
14 to which one line as an example of the group boundary
information 102 and the characters "S" meaning the beginning of the
group and "E" meaning the end of the group are given. FIG. 24 shows
the dummy container 14 to which one line as an example of the group
boundary information 102, and the characters "P" and "Q" are given.
Of these, the characters "P" and "Q" also function as the group
discrimination information 104 for discriminating the groups of
company P and company Q, respectively.
[0111] As described above, according to the form in which the dummy
container 14 is used, by giving the group boundary information 102
to the sample container 13, it is possible to suppress the
difficulty in recognizing the subject information such as the name
information. Therefore, it is possible to more appropriately
associate the test result with the test order. Further, by
preparing the dummy container 14 in advance, the work of giving the
group boundary information 102 to the sample container 13 by the
tester can be omitted, so that the efficiency of the test work can
be improved.
[0112] The techniques disclosed in each of the above embodiments
can be combined in any combination. For example, the test result
related to the sample contained in the sample container 13 may be
associated with the test order by using all of the subject
discrimination information disclosed in the first embodiment and
the group boundary information 102 and the group discrimination
information 104 disclosed in the second embodiment.
[0113] Further, in each of the above embodiments, each functional
unit included in the test device 21 and the management device 22
may be performed by an external device connected to the test device
21 and the management device 22. For example, the test device 21
may not include the imaging unit 52, the test device 21 may receive
the label image 55 captured by an external imaging device such as a
digital camera, and the received label image 55 may be output in
association with the test result. Further, for example, the
management device 22 may not include the recognition unit 62, and
the management device 22 may receive the subject information, the
group boundary information 102, and the group discrimination
information 104 obtained by causing an external device having a
character recognition function to recognize the label image 55.
[0114] In each of the above embodiments, for example, as hardware
structures of processing units that execute various kinds of
processing, such as the acquisition unit 60, the recognition unit
62, the association unit 64, and the display control unit 66,
various processors shown below can be used. As described above, the
various processors include a programmable logic device (PLD) as a
processor of which the circuit configuration can be changed after
manufacture, such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a
dedicated electrical circuit as a processor having a dedicated
circuit configuration for executing specific processing such as an
application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and the like, in
addition to the CPU as a general-purpose processor that functions
as various processing units by executing software (program).
[0115] One processing unit may be configured by one of the various
processors, or configured by a combination of the same or different
kinds of two or more processors (for example, a combination of
plural FPGAs or a combination of the CPU and the FPGA). In
addition, plural processing units may be configured by one
processor. As an example where plural processing units are
configured by one processor, first, there is a form in which one
processor is configured by a combination of one or more CPUs and
software as typified by a computer, such as a client or a server,
and this processor functions as plural processing units. Second,
there is a form in which a processor for realizing the function of
the entire system including plural processing units by one
integrated circuit (IC) chip as typified by a system on chip (SoC)
or the like is used. As described above, various processing units
are configured by using one or more of the above-described various
processors as hardware structures.
[0116] Furthermore, as the hardware structure of the various
processors, more specifically, an electrical circuit (circuitry) in
which circuit elements such as semiconductor elements are combined
can be used.
* * * * *